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Find a Doctor

Find a Provider

Physicians Group

USA Health offers an extensive network of physicians and other health care providers through USA Physicians Group, the region’s largest multispecialty practice, and several other affiliated physician practices.

Services

Find a Service

At USA Health, we treat people. In doing so, we want to understand your unique needs so our doctors and other providers can design a plan of care specifically for you. Use the field below to search for a specific service, treatment, specialty or provider.

Dr. Steve M. Cordina, associate professor of neurology at the University of South Alabama College of Medicine and medical director for the USA Stroke Center, said it is very important to take immediate action at the first sign of stroke.

Stroke is the third leading cause of death in the United States and the leading cause of serious, long-term disability. On average, someone in the United States has a stroke every 40 seconds.

According to Dr. Cordina, there are two common types of stroke. “An ischemic stroke results when there is a blockage in the blood vessels to the brain,” he said, “and a hemorrhagic stroke is caused by spontaneous leaking blood vessels in the brain.”

In a transient ischemic attack (TIA), or “mini stroke,” stroke symptoms last less than 24 hours and usually do not lead to damage. “A TIA is a warning sign that a stroke could occur soon,” Dr. Cordina said. “Five percent will have a stroke within the next two days, while 10-20 percent will have a stroke within the next 90 days.”

Dr. Cordina said everyone should be aware of risk factors for stroke. Modifiable risks of stroke include hypertension, high cholesterol, sleep apnea, diabetes, smoking, being overweight, lack of exercise, heart disease, and carotid and vertebral artery disease.

Non-modifiable risks of stroke include age, race, sex, previous stroke or TIA, or family history of stroke.

“It is important not to ignore risk factors,” Dr. Cordina said. “Even though they may not bother you for a long time, they can lead to a major stroke.”

Patients may be eligible to undergo endovascular treatment of an ischemic stroke “blockage” – the most common type of stroke. If given within four and a half hours of the start of symptoms, a clot-busting drug called tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) may reduce long-term disability.

Dr. Cordina urges everyone to learn the warning signs and call 9-1-1 at the first sign of stroke.

“Every minute, millions of neurons die in the stroke patients,” he said. “Time is brain. The faster you get to the hospital, the higher chances of recovery.”

What are the stroke warning signs?

sudden weakness or numbness of the face, arm or leg, especially on one side of the body

sudden confusion

trouble speaking or understanding

sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes

sudden trouble walking

dizziness, loss of balance or coordination

sudden, severe headache with no known cause

FAST is an easy way to remember and identify the most common symptoms of a stroke. Recognition of stroke and calling 9-1-1 will determine how quickly someone will receive help and treatment. Getting to a hospital rapidly will more likely lead to a better recovery.

Face - Look for facial droop. Normally, both sides of the face should move equally. It is abnormal for one side of the face to not move at all.

Arms – Normally, both arms move equally or not at all. It is abnormal for one arm to drift.

Speech – Look for abnormal speech. If they are unable to speak or understand, it could be a stroke. Ask the person to repeat a sentence.

Time - If you observe any of these signs, call 9-1-1 immediately.

To request an appointment with a USA Health physician or specialist, click here to use our online form or contact our Patient Navigator at (251) 434-3711.

USA Health Mitchell Cancer Institute has launched a statewide campaign called “GO Teal and White” to raise awareness about how to prevent cervical cancer, which is killing more women in Alabama than in any other state in the nation. The campaign will run throughout January, Cervical Cancer Awareness Month.